I'm One Lucky Girl!

It was a great birthday indeed! Sandy called while I was getting ready. I left the house about ten to 8. I was surprised to discover this:

15 degrees---that's like our coldest temperature in 5 years! No wonder I was so cold. I did notice that my windshield was partially defrosted, but didn't give it a moments thought. It was freezing and I was too lazy to go back in the house for gloves. Plus, I was still on the phone with Sandy.

My first stop was Starbucks for my free birthday treat. I had a cranberry scone and my regular ventiicedblackteashakenwiththreeequalsplease.  From there, I dropped a package in the mail at the post office, took a return back to Lowe's, another return to Hobby Lobby and purchased two lamps for Morgan's room. That was all the way in Franklin, but there was really no other time this week that I could get there. 

Now I was really ready to start my birthday---well, after one quick drive-through the bank. I met Connie at Venetian for our monthly pedicure---our first since last August before my surgery. I always enjoy that as it give us time to catch up with each other. I'll admit, now that she's retired, we see each other a lot more, but any excuse is A-okay with me!!

We met Karolyn and Nancy at Cheeseburger Charley's for a quick lunch before our Movie Monday. Connie picked it---The Hateful 8. It's a Quentin Tarantino film. His films are "out there." I knew that I had seen a few of his movies, but only Pulp Fiction came to mind. So, I looked him up. He's made over 25 films. Mitchell gives me a movie every year at Christmas and part of the gift is watching it late at night together. A few years ago, he gave me Django. The best one I've seen is Inglorious Bastards. Anyway, that's about it with my experience of QT films. 

The Hateful 8 was certainly weird---and long. Connie professes that she's never picking another movie. We all pick some that aren't so great. And when you try to go every week, you are bound to hit a few bummers. We have hopes for next Monday when we're seeing Revenant with Leonardo DiCaprio. He just won the Golden Globe for best actor for this one. I don't really know anything about it, but I saw him on a talk show so it piqued my interest. I hope it's good. 

I didn't get home until nearly 4 p.m. I walked in the house to this:

The picture does not do the roses justice. They are the palest, peachy, most beautiful pink I've ever seen. I called to Butch that I loved them---and he even arranged them. Doing the grocery shopping is gift enough! 

He then asked me if I'd noticed that he'd heated up my car. Then I remembered about the partially defrosted windshield. But the car was not warm at all, so I didn't really notice that. Considering it was 15 degrees, it didn't have much time to warm up. My remote start only goes for 10 minutes. At 15 degrees it would get cold pretty quick even if it had started to warm up.

My birthday present from Connie were these darling little antique chairs. She knows I have a "thing" for chairs. I'll have to find the perfect place for them. Plus she gave me the first three seasons of one of her favorite shows---Major Crimes. She's been talking about it for a long time. I finally found it and set it to record. I've only watched 4 episodes but like it already. I'm glad to start at the beginning and see the relationships develop. You can jump in any time and won't feel like you don't know what's going on. Still, I like watching from the beginning. Once I finish Justified  in my scrapbook room, this will be next.

I should back up a little. My birthday actually began last week. Madelyn and Mary Jo took me to lunch on Friday. Madelyn made me a loaf of her famous banana bread. I've put it in the freezer for when the family is here in just two and a half weeks. Mary Jo gave me the most aromatic candle I think I've ever had. I could smell it through the wrapping. I left the box on the counter for a couple days because it smelled so good. I'll start using it next when the one I have going now is finished. I'm looking forward to it.

Karolyn gave me a pretty pair of earrings. I forgot to take a picture of them---I'll do it later. I have another package waiting to be opened from my sister-in-law, Chris. Stephanie and Mindy are coming for dinner tonight since we're working on a few wedding things. I'll open it then. 

I got 4 cards in the mail (okay, so one's from the bank and another from the Dominican Campus---but I'm counting them---the other two are from my cousins, Chrissy and Judy), 11 birthday texts (all 5 of my grandchildren sent me the sweetest texts), 4 phone calls and about 50 Facebook birthday greetings. And, it's not over yet! I'm having lunch with Sally on Wednesday. Plus, we're going to the Bonefish Grill on Friday night when Justin can be with us for my birthday dinner. 

I love week long birthdays, don't you? 

I am one lucky girl!

PS Mindy called and started with "Mom, I don't want to take away from your birthday, but I got a promotion and nice raise today!" I told her that was the best birthday present of all! Her new title is Senior Application Lead. She's very excited. What a way to start her new life!

Only Mindy would think you shouldn't steal someone's thunder on their birthday! More to the point---she wouldn't want anyone stealing her thunder on her birthday! I'm sure she'll feel differently when she's 64. 

OMGosh, I just realized I've reached that age. You know, the one in the Beatles song---When I'm 64 ---"when I get older, losing my hair, many years from now..." Who knew it would get her so fast!